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Assessment of groundwater dynamics and its relationship to alpine ponds (Serra da Estrela, N Portugal): coupling isotopic and hydrogeochemical signatures

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Abstract

Serra da Estrela Natural Park is situated on the highest mountain in central Portugal, being the climate of this research region strongly affected by its geographic location and geomorphology. To find out possible relationships between shallow groundwater systems and alpine ponds, groundwater samples from 15 springs were collected between 2010 and 2011 along six sampling campaigns and chemical and isotopic determinations were performed. In the same mountain sector 7 alpine ponds were also sampled and analysed. From the isotopic data of the spring waters, it was possible to establish the Local Meteoric Water Line (ẟ2H = 6.58 ± 0.29 ẟ18O + 1.31 ± 1.23). An isotopic fractionation of the water vapour air masses with the altitude was also identified: 0.13‰/100 m from the oxygen-18 values. The sampled shallow groundwaters are low mineralized and belong to the Cl-Na-type, reflecting small water–rock interaction and short underground flow paths. Based on the chemical signatures and mineralization increase in some shallow groundwaters, it was possible to identify the presence of anthropogenic pollution ascribed to snow melting by de-icing salts in the roads. In addition to precipitation, the isotopic composition of some alpine ponds shows signs of recharge/contribution from shallow groundwater, identified by a depletion in isotopic composition (δ2H and δ18O values); in parallel to this isotopic depletion, the increase in surface water mineralisation is only feasible if a contribution from snowmelt and road de-icing salts to these surface systems is assumed, enhancing the existence of anthropogenic contamination.

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Acknowledgements

FEDER-EU supported this work through COMPETE Funds and the Portuguese Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT), namely under the strategic projects: C2TN|IST – UIDB/04349/2020; CERENA|IST – UIDB/04028/2020; ICT|FCUP – UIDB/04683/2020 and UIDP/04683/2020; CEGOT|FLUP – UIDB/04084/2020, and GeoBioTec|UA – UID/GEO/04035/2020. In addition, this work was partially supported by the LABCARGA|ISEP re-equipment program (IPP-ISEP| PAD'2007/08). An early draft of this manuscript was critically read by two anonymous reviewers and we gratefully acknowledge their contributions.

Funding

FEDER-EU supported this work through COMPETE Funds and the Portuguese Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT), namely under the strategic projects: C2TN|IST – UIDB/04349/2020; CERENA|IST – UIDB/04028/2020; ICT|FCUP – UIDB/04683/2020 and UIDP/04683/2020; CEGOT|FLUP – UIDB/04084/2020, and GeoBioTec|UA –UID/GEO/04035/2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN), Departamento de Engenharia e Tecnologias Nucleares (DECN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, ao km 139, 7, 2695-066, Bobadela LRS, Portugal

    Paula M. Carreira & Alexandre M. Almeida

  2. Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente (CERENA), Departamento de Engenharia de Recursos Minerais e Energéticos (DER), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Alexandre M. Almeida & José M. Marques

  3. TARH – Terra, Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos, Lda., Sacavém, Portugal

    Marina Paiva

  4. Departamento de Geociências, Ambiente e Ordenamento do Território, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Marina Paiva, Alexandra Carvalho & Jorge Espinha Marques

  5. Instituto de Ciências da Terra, Polo da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal

    Jorge Espinha Marques

  6. CEGOT|FLUP, Departamento de Geografia, Faculdade de Letras, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    José Teixeira

  7. Laboratory of Cartography and Applied Geology (LABCARGA), Department of Geotechnical Engineering, School of Engineering (ISEP), Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Helder I. Chaminé

  8. Centre GeoBioTec|UA, Aveiro, Portugal

    Helder I. Chaminé

  9. Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal

    Catarina Mansilha

  10. LAQV/REQUIMTE, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Catarina Mansilha

Authors
  1. Paula M. Carreira
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  2. Alexandre M. Almeida
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  3. Marina Paiva
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  4. Alexandra Carvalho
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  5. Jorge Espinha Marques
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  6. José M. Marques
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  7. José Teixeira
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  8. Helder I. Chaminé
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  9. Catarina Mansilha
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Contributions

PMC, JMM and JEM designed the research. PMC, JMM, JME, MP, AMA, AC, JT and HIC gave input on field surveys, groundwater inventory, regional geology, remote sensing, hydrogeomorphology, and GIS-based mapping of the studied area and surroundings. PMC, AMA and JMM carried out water chemistry and isotopic analysis. CM realised environmental hydrochemistry analysis. JME, MP, and AC performed hydropedological studies at the study site. All authors contributed to the data analysis and interpretation and discussed the results. PMC, AMA, JMM, JEM, CM and HIC wrote the manuscript with the contributions of all authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paula M. Carreira.

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Carreira, P.M., Almeida, A.M., Paiva, M. et al. Assessment of groundwater dynamics and its relationship to alpine ponds (Serra da Estrela, N Portugal): coupling isotopic and hydrogeochemical signatures. Environ Earth Sci 83, 328 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11623-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11623-0

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